For the first three quarters of Friday’s matchup, it appeared as though the Idaho women’s basketball team would fall to regional rival Eastern Washington.
A fourth quarter offensive comeback fueled by freshman guard Taylor Pierce and senior post Ali Forde would boost Idaho to a 86-71 semifinal victory during the Big Sky Conference tournament in Reno.
The win gives Idaho a berth in the championship against Idaho State Saturday.
Freshman guard Mikayla Ferenz led Idaho with 20 points and seven rebounds. Pierce followed her performance by contributing another 16 points.
Forde notched a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
Eastern Washington took the lead early in the first quarter with a quick layup from Mariah Cunningham.
Ferenz and Salvatore combined for consecutive baskets, but the Eagles utilized an offensive streak to earn a 23-17 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Idaho would chip away at Eastern Washington’s lead with five points from Pierce and two from Ferenz.
Junior point guard Karlee Wilson added another five points to give Idaho a 29-27 lead.
The Eagles responded with four points from freshman Amira Chandler and a trey from Delaney Hodgins to enter halftime with a 41-35 advantage.
Ferenz sank three consecutive treys to begin the third quarter for the Vandals. Wilson added another 3-pointer to earn a 47-43 lead for Idaho.
Eastern Washington regained the lead following five free throws and a layup from Hodgins.
The Eagles ended the third quarter with a 56-55 advantage.
Idaho gained its largest lead of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Pierce provided five points and Forde added four points to spark the Vandals.
Pierce dropped two more 3-pointers to extend Idaho’s advantage to 72- 62.
The Vandals shot 50 percent from behind the arc to clinch the victory, after converting nine 3-pointers in the second half.
Idaho held Eastern Washington to 21.9 percent shooting from the field in the second half. The Eagles missed every 3-point attempt during that span.
Idaho will take on Idaho State at 12 p.m. Saturday in the tournament championship in Reno.
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos